Texas Rangers

Wrapping up Rangers' 9-3 loss to the Athletics

Every game at this point in the season is important for the Texas Rangers, and they aren't looking at Thursday's four-game series finale against Oakland any differently.

But they know it'd be nice to win it after dropping the past two games to the Athletics, who sit three games back in the American League West standings with seven to play.

"Hopefully it'll be back to four tomorrow," Josh Hamilton said. "That'll make everybody feel better."

Said Michael Young: "They're all important. Every game we play for the rest of the season is going to be important. That's why September is the best time of the year to be playing baseball. Every time we step on the field, it's an important game."

Here are a few postgame notes from Wednesday's loss:

* Josh Hamilton made no excuses for his two misplays in center field in the first inning that helped spark a five-run first for the A's. Hamilton had a single by Josh Donaldson roll underneath his glove, and then misread a fly ball by Derek Norris that turned into a triple. "Here the ball snakes so you've got to watch the ball all the way into your glove," Hamilton said. "I peeked too early and the ball went right around it. The ball in the gap, I went to a spot I thought it was going to be and it took off." Hamilton missed five games with ocular keratitis recently, but said his vision wasn't an issue.

* The Rangers received a few solid relief outings Wednesday. Roy Oswalt worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings; Yoshinori Tateyama pitched 2 1/3 scoreless; and Justin Grimm allowed one run over the final three innings.

* Martin Perez lasted only 2/3 of an inning in his start, and might have pitched his way out of the rotation. That spot comes up one more time this season -- Monday at Oakland -- and manager Ron Washington said a decision on that spot has not been made.

-- Drew Davison

Athletics 9, Rangers 3 (F)

ARLINGTON – Martin Perez couldn’t get out of the first inning, five relievers had to be used and the Texas Rangers fell 9-3 to the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night.

The A’s have won the past two games and now trail the Rangers by three games in the American League West with seven left to play. They wrap up a four-game series on Thursday afternoon at Rangers Ballpark.

Perez gave up hits to six of the eight batters he faced, allowing five runs over 2/3 of an inning. He didn’t get much help from the defense, either, as Josh Hamilton had a single roll under his glove and misplayed a fly ball in the first inning.

Roy Oswalt entered and threw 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. That allowed the Rangers to pull to within 5-3 by the end of the second inning. However, that was as close as they’d come.

Rangers righty Wilmer Font started the third and issued consecutive walks. Tanner Scheppers came in after that, and allowed both inherited runners to score. Scheppers gave up a single run in the fourth as Oakland took an 8-3 lead which stood until the end.

Yoshinori Tateyama and Justin Grimm helped save the Rangers’ bullpen in the later innings. Tateyama threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings, while Grimm pitched the final three.

-- Drew Davison

Adrian Beltre: Eric Gagne should have named names

Adrian Beltre doesn’t know why his former Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Eric Gagne didn’t produce names in his upcoming autobiography.

In the French-language book, “Game Over: The Story of Eric Gagne,” he alleges 80 percent of his Dodgers teammates used performance-enhancing drugs, according to a report on ESPN.com.

“He should have mentioned names,” Beltre said on Wednesday. “I don’t know what you want me to tell you. I know for sure that I’m not one of them. ... For [Gagne] to say something like that, he should have come out with names instead of a percentage."

Beltre added that he has no interest in reading the book. Beltre and Gagne were teammates with the Dodgers from 1999-2004.

Gagne, the 2003 National League Cy Young winner, admitted using human growth hormone during his playing career in 2010. He was first linked to steroid use in the Mitchell Report, released in late 2007.

-- Drew Davison

Wednesday's Rangers notes: Yu Darvish's next start remains TBD

Yu Darvish's next start still has not been determined by the Texas Rangers.

Darvish was a late scratch from his scheduled start Tuesday with a stiff neck, but felt better and played catch during batting practice.

Manager Ron Washington said inserting Darvish into the rotation before his next scheduled start on Sunday against the Angels is under consideration, but not a definite. Washington said Darvish would pitch on Sunday, though, if they don't push him up.

"It's day to day, we'll see how his treatment goes," Washington said.

Here are a few other notes:

* The Rangers' running game has been "out of sorts," Ron Washington said. They had two base running errors on Tuesday, and their top two base stealers -- Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler -- have one combined stolen base in September. Andrus and Kinsler are aware that the running game has been slowed, as opposing pitchers are cautious of it. Additionally, Kinsler said the offense can be more selective when they run with Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre behind them in the lineup. 

* Tanner Scheppers retired the lone batter he faced Tuesday, his first appearance since suffering a bruised right knee on Sept. 18. Scheppers said he felt good on the mound, and return to his normal role.

* The Rangers announced their minor league award winners for August/September today. RHP Angelo Leclerc was pitcher of the month; OF Leonys Martin was player of the month; OF Preston Beck was defender of the month; and LHP Alexander Claudio was reliever of the month.

-- Drew Davison

Wednesday's Rangers-A's lineups

The Rangers will go after Oakland rookie Jarrod Parker on Wednesday with what rates as their best lineup against a right-handed pitcher. It's the same lineup that helped the Rangers win the opener of this four-game series Monday. That means Mike Napoli is back behind the plate to catch Martin Perez, who threw to Geovany Soto on Friday at Seattle.

A's lineup vs. LHP Martin Perez: Stephen Drew, ss; Jonny Gomes, lf; Yoenis Cespedes, cf; Chris Carter, dh; Brandon Moss, dh; Josh Donaldson, 3b; Josh Reddick, rf; Derek Norris, c; Cliff Pennington, 2b.

Rangers lineup vs. RHP Jarrod Parker: Ian Kinsler, 2b; Elvis Andrus, ss; Josh Hamilton, cf; Adrian Beltre, 3b; Nelson Cruz, rf; Michael Young, dh; David Murphy, lf; Mike Napoli, c; Mitch Moreland, 1b.

-- Jeff Wilson

Wrapping up Rangers' 3-2 loss to the Athletics

The Texas Rangers aren't expecting an easy path to a third consecutive American League West championship, and the Oakland Athletics are their closest pursuer.

And the A's aren't going away quietly.

A day after the Rangers won in walkoff fashion, the A's rebounded with an extra-inning, 3-2 victory on Tuesday to pull back to within four games of the Rangers in the division race with eight left to play.

"This is the time of year everyone is playing for a postseason berth so, no, no one is going to stop playing hard and we don't expect them to," infielder Michael Young said. "We expect these all to be tight games, but that's what makes it so much fun."

It was a tight game Tuesday.

The Rangers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but it could have been more as they stranded a runner on third with less than two outs. They also had a pair of costly base-running mistakes.

Oakland, meanwhile, scored two runs against spot starter Scott Feldman, filling in when Yu Darvish was a late scratch.

Feldman worked four-plus innings, and then the bullpen strung together five scoreless innings before Mark Lowe served up a go-ahead solo homer to A's No. 9 batter George Kottaras.

Lowe has allowed an extra innings, go-ahead homer in two of his last three appearances.

"Frustrating," Lowe said of his September. "It's really hard to sit out there for a long time and not pitch and get put in there and be on top of your game. It's not an excuse, but it definitely makes it harder to be consistent when you're not in there consistently."

Here are a few other postgame notes: 

* Koji Uehara worked a perfect seventh inning, and has retired all 16 batters he's faced in his last six appearances.

* Josh Hamilton had a pair of singles and is 3 for 7 with a home run, RBI and two runs since returning to the lineup on Monday.

* Michael Young had the Rangers' only extra-base hit of the night, a double in the fourth inning. He is batting .388 with six walks over his last 14 games.

-- Drew Davison

Athletics 3, Rangers 2 (F, 10)

ARLINGTON – Yu Darvish was a late scratch for the Texas Rangers, but Scott Feldman produced a solid spot start on short notice and the bullpen strung together five scoreless innings.

Mark Lowe ended that string of scoreless innings, though, giving up a leadoff home run in the 10^th inning. That proved to the difference as the Oakland Athletics prevailed in a 3-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.

Oakland pulled back to within four games of Texas in the American League West standings with eight to play.

With the game tied 2-2 going into the 10^th, the Rangers brought in Lowe, who had given up six runs over his last 2 2/3 innings stretching over four appearances.

And the troubling trend for Lowe continued. Oakland's No. 9 batter, George Kottaras, turned on a 3-2 fastball and drilled it over the right-field fence.

That spoiled what had been an impressive night put together by the Rangers’ pitching staff.

Feldman worked into the fifth inning, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts over four-plus innings. Michael Kirkman came in and threw two scoreless innings followed by a scoreless frame by Koji Uehara and two more by Alexi Ogando.

The A’s pitching staff was just as effective, however, and benefited from a pair of base-running errors by the Rangers.

In the end, Texas went 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position and managed only two unearned runs on an error.

A’s starter Tommy Milone allowed both unearned runs over six innings, and four relievers closed it out. Oakland closer Grant Balfour saved it in the 10^th by striking out Mitch Moreland and Ian Kinsler and getting Elvis Andrus to fly out.

-- Drew Davison

Tonight's Rangers-Athletics lineup

Scott Feldman returns to the rotation tonight, as he takes the spot of Yu Darvish, who was scratched with neck stiffness.

Feldman last started on Sept. 15 against Seattle, lasting only 2 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts. He was removed from the rotation after that start, and replaced by Martin Perez.

Feldman made his first relief appearance since the change on Friday, throwing three scoreless innings at Seattle.

Texas -- 1. Ian Kinsler, 2b; 2. Elvis Andrus, ss; 3. Josh Hamilton, cf; 4. Adrian Beltre, 3b; 5. Nelson Cruz, rf; 6. Michael Young, 1b; 7. David Murphy, lf; 8. Mike Napoli, dh; 9. Geovany Soto, c.

RHP Scott Feldman (6-11, 5.19 ERA)

Oakland -- 1. Cliff Pennington, 2b; 2. Stephen Drew, ss; 3. Yoenis Cespedes, cf; 4. Brandon Moss, cf; 5. Seth Smith, lf; 6. Chris Carter, dh; 7. Daric Barton, 1b; 8. Josh Donaldson, 3b; 9. George Kottaras, c.

LHP Tommy Milone (13-10, 3.86 ERA)

Tuesday's Rangers pregame notes

Roy Oswalt threw two scoreless innings of relief Monday, his first appearance since Sept. 9.

Oswalt said he felt it went well and was pleased with where his command was with the extended time off.

At this point, Oswalt believes two innings is about as much as he can throw in relief. He left the Sept. 9 game with flexor muscle soreness near his right elbow.

"It'd be hard to throw four or five innings right now," Oswalt said.

For now, Oswalt could put himself in position for a spot on the playoff roster. When he builds his arm strength back up, he can be a longman in the bullpen, as well as a middle reliever.

"He can fill a couple roles," Ron Washington said. "If the situation dictates that he's the best guy, we'll bring him in."

Here are a few other pregame notes:

* Ron Washington said he will not limit the number of games Adrian Beltre plays on the field the rest of the way. Beltre said he tweaked his abdominal area on Monday, but stayed in the game and drove in the Rangers' final three runs. Beltre said he isn't playing hurt, simply dealing with the soreness most major leaguers feel at this time of the season. "If he can't play, he'll tell me," Washington said. "As far as I'm concerned, Beltre is fine."

* Mike Olt took batting practice for the first time today since leaving a Sept. 12 game with plantar fasciitis in his right heel. Olt also expected to run in some fashion today, whether it is in the pool or on the treadmill. "It doesn't feel 100 percent, but it's close to what it was before I blew it out," Olt said. "Woke up today fine, it wasn't sore."

* Martin Perez will make his second start on Wednesday since returning to the rotation. Perez struggled in his first start back against Seattle on Friday, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts over four innings. Ron Washington said the issue with Perez was commanding his fastball and a lack of depth on his breaking ball. "He could've been nervous the first time back, but overall what I liked is the way he competed," Ron Washington said.

-- Drew Davison

Yu Darvish's statement on being scratched from tonight's start

The Texas Rangers have scratched Yu Darvish from today's start with neck stiffness. Scott Feldman will start in his place.

Darvish felt the stiffness this morning, received treatment and still had stiffness. The date of his next start is to be determined. His next scheduled start would be Sunday against Anaheim.

"I woke up with a stiff neck. I really wanted to throw tonight, it's just unfortunate I can't," Darvish said in a statement. "I am continuing to have treatment and taking the situation day-to-day."

Darvish has gone 16-9 with a 3.90 ERA this season, while Feldman is 6-11 with a 5.19 ERA. Feldman pitched in relief on Friday, his first appearance since being removed from the rotation.

-- Drew Davison